The 60-year-old Top Line Salvage owner plans to run for a seat on city council in the upcoming Oct. 24 municipal election. He said it’s time for change on Moose Jaw city council — change that results in greater emphasis towards dealing with the city’s infrastructure deficit.

“I’ve been here 16 years and the potholes have only gotten bigger,” he said, adding in his opinion the city needs to be spending as much as five to 10 times more on such core infrastructure as curbs and roads.

“The only way we can change things is by trying.”

Smith moved to Moose Jaw from Drumheller, Alta. In 1995 he bought Top Line Salvage, which is located just south of the city in the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw.

In Drumheller, he said, appearances are very important for that tourism community, which means the town maintains adequate highways and sidewalks. He said Moose Jaw should strive for similar such adequate roadways.

Smith said another major issue in Moose Jaw is affordable housing. He said the city must do more to provide businesses with the incentives necessary to encourage increased construction of affordable housing options.

This is Smith’s second run at local council, having unsuccessfully made a bid for a position in the 2009 election.

Since that time, Smith said he has been heavily involved with establishing the Saskatchewan Auto Wreckers Association, which was successfully incorporated two years ago, and for which he serves as the non-profit organization’s president.

“It is progressing really well,” he said, adding Saskatchewan was the last province to attain such an association of auto wreakers and, since its inception, the group has made available 10 scholarships at SIAST.

Smith is also a voting member of the Canadian Auto Wreckers Association.

According to Smith, while Moose Jaw has excellent facilities such as Mosaic Place and a soon-to-be-built new Five Hills Health Region hospital, it is important to have the necessary infrastructure to service those facilities — including good roads to get to them in the first place.

The council candidate said the nature of his business means that he regularly deals with people of all demographics in the community. He said this gives him an understanding of the issues that matter to Moose Javians.

“If you want a change, vote for Jack.”

If elected, Smith told the Times-Herald, he would work towards the betterment of Moose Jaw — working towards addressing what he sees as important in the community. He said Moose Jaw is a community that has served him well, and for which he wants to see the best.